11 May I Chose You (John 15:16) by Kathy Jo Peterson
Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors. LIFE Minute radio.
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…” ~ John 15:16 (full readings)
Kathy Jo’s Reflections: Sister Francelle lived her life for others. She focused on loving people, encouraging them, helping them to know God, serving them and praying with and for them. After Sister Francelle’s stroke many of us heard her say, “I am no good.” That was a hard thing to hear from someone who for so many was a pillar of faith. We realized that this beautiful woman who had been the strong one now needed to hear us tell her what she told us so often: God is with you always. God loves you. You are not alone. We prayed with her and for her, we encouraged her, we held her hand and we reminded her that she was good. I made my last visit this past weekend with my cousin, David. As we left she looked at us and she said, “When I die you will smell roses.” I looked at her and said, “Now Sister, how can we smell roses if you are no good?” She looked at me for a few moments, relaxed and said, “Then I must be good.” We left her holding that truth. On the eve of Sr. Francelle’s death one of her dear friends, Sr. Abbey, prayed the Office of Readings at her bedside: To know you, O God, is to possess eternal life. Sr. Francelle passed peacefully into the arms of her Heavenly Father as they prayed. I am comforted that when she left this earth she knew that she was good, a child of God. Thank you for being a part of this circle of love in the family of Sister Francelle. Eternal rest grant unto Sr. Francelle, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. Obituary
* Kathy Jo Peterson is the niece of Sr. Francelle Clark. She is married to Jerry and the mother of two daughters. They reside in Minneapolis, MN.
Faith Challenge: Remember today that your life is not your own; that Christ first chose you. Just as Sr. Francelle honored that call in her life, go and bear fruit that will remain…
Sr. Francelle’s Devotion: Death (be not afraid) May 2, 2008.
Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA, Vatican, Project Rachel.
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
Feast Day: St. Ignatius of Laconi (d. 1781).
Faith Quote: “The best preparation for death is to live in the present moment and to spread as much love as we can, for all of Life is meant to be LOVE! Jesus showed us that.” ~ Sr. Francelle Clarke
Through Christ Our Lord,
Kathy Jo Peterson
Romans 12:12
* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will and His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (and family): Abortion (images) is #1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 and Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers and re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.